SignalEDI Documentation
Everything you need to integrate, configure, and get value from SignalEDI. For a copy-paste first upload, start with the Developer QuickStart. Use the navigation on the left to jump to any section.
1. Getting Started
Account Setup
Creating a SignalEDI account takes under two minutes. No demo call required, no sales process — just sign up and start.
- Navigate to signaledi.com/register and enter your work email and a strong password.
- Check your inbox for a verification email from
no-reply@signaledi.comand click the confirmation link. - Choose a subscription plan (Starter · Professional · Enterprise) and complete checkout via Stripe. No setup fees.
- You will land on the onboarding wizard — add your company name, ISA Sender ID, and first trading partner.
First Login
After verification, log in at signaledi.com/login. If you enabled MFA during setup you will be prompted for your TOTP code after entering your password.
Accounts with status PENDING_PAYMENT or PENDING_VERIFICATION are redirected to the /access page until activation is complete.
Dashboard Overview
The dashboard is your real-time command center. Key areas:
| Section | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Transaction Monitor | Live feed of every inbound/outbound EDI transaction with status badges |
| File Manager | All uploaded EDI files, validation results, and download links |
| Trading Partners | All configured partners, their ISA IDs, and connection status |
| Billing | Current plan, usage, add-ons, and Stripe customer portal link |
| Add-ons | Available and active add-on modules |
| Settings | Account details, API keys, MFA, and notification preferences |
2. EDI Basics
What is EDI?
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the computer-to-computer exchange of business documents in a standard electronic format. Instead of emailing a PDF purchase order or faxing an invoice, EDI encodes those documents in a structured text format that both sender and receiver systems can parse automatically.
EDI eliminates manual data entry, reduces errors, and is required by most large retailers (Walmart, Target, Amazon), healthcare payers (Medicare, Blue Cross), and 3PLs. If a trading partner tells you "we only accept EDI," SignalEDI is what you use to become EDI-capable.
X12 Format
ANSI X12 is the dominant EDI standard in North America. An X12 document is a flat text file with segments separated by a tilde (~) and elements within each segment separated by an asterisk (*).
ISA*00* *00* *ZZ*SENDERID *ZZ*RECEIVERID *260101*1200*U*00401*000000001*0*P*>~
GS*PO*SENDERID*RECEIVERID*20260101*1200*1*X*004010~
ST*850*0001~
BEG*00*SA*PO-2024-001**20260101~
REF*DP*DEPT-47~
N1*ST*WALMART STORE #4872*91*0001234567~
PO1*1*100*EA*24.99**BP*ITEM-001*VN*VENDOR-SKU-A~
CTT*1~
SE*8*0001~
GE*1*1~
IEA*1*000000001~Each line is a segment. The first element (before the first *) is the segment identifier (e.g. ISA, BEG, PO1). The number after the segment ID is the element position within that segment.
Common Transaction Sets
| Code | Name | Used By | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 850 | Purchase Order | Retail | Inbound from buyer |
| 855 | PO Acknowledgment | Retail | Outbound to buyer |
| 856 | Advance Ship Notice | Retail | Outbound to buyer |
| 810 | Invoice | Retail & Healthcare | Outbound |
| 837P/I/D | Medical Claims | Healthcare | Outbound to payer |
| 835 | Remittance Advice | Healthcare | Inbound from payer |
| 270 | Eligibility Inquiry | Healthcare | Outbound to payer |
| 271 | Eligibility Response | Healthcare | Inbound from payer |
| 278 | Prior Authorization | Healthcare | Bidirectional |
| 997 | Functional Acknowledgment | All | Bidirectional |
| 214 | Shipment Status | Logistics | Inbound |
| 844 | Chargeback / Debit Memo | Retail | Inbound |
ISA / GS Segments Explained
Every X12 interchange starts with an ISA (Interchange Control Header) segment and ends with IEA. Within each interchange, one or more GS functional groups wrap the actual transaction sets.
| Element | Position | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA06 | 6 | Interchange Sender ID (your company) | SENDERID |
| ISA08 | 8 | Interchange Receiver ID (partner) | RECEIVERID |
| ISA13 | 13 | Interchange Control Number (unique) | 000000001 |
| ISA16 | 16 | Sub-element separator | > |
| GS02 | 2 | Application Sender Code | SENDERID |
| GS03 | 3 | Application Receiver Code | RECEIVERID |
| GS06 | 6 | Group Control Number | 1 |
| ST01 | 1 | Transaction Set Identifier Code | 850 |
3. Processing Files
How to Upload EDI Files
Navigate to Files → Upload in the dashboard. You can:
- Drag and drop one or more EDI files onto the drop zone.
- Click the drop zone to open a file browser.
- Use the
POST /api/files/uploadendpoint for programmatic uploads.
Maximum file size: 50 MB per file. Maximum batch: 25 files at once.
Validation & Processing
After upload, SignalEDI runs a multi-step pipeline:
- Syntax check — verifies ISA/GS envelope structure, segment terminators, and element delimiters.
- Transaction set validation — checks mandatory segments, element formats, and code values against the X12 specification for the identified transaction set.
- Partner matching — matches the ISA06/ISA08 IDs to a configured trading partner in your account.
- Output routing — delivers the processed data per the output mode configured for that partner (EDI passthrough or JSON API).
- 997 acknowledgment — automatically generates a 997 FA back to the sender if configured.
FAILED transaction status. Click any failed transaction to see the specific segment and element that caused the rejection.Supported Formats
| Format | Extensions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ANSI X12 | .edi, .x12, .txt, .dat | All versions 3010–8010. Auto-detected. |
| EDIFACT | .edi, .txt | Limited support — contact support for EDIFACT partners. |
| Flat File (CSV/TSV) | .csv, .tsv, .txt | Requires a custom map — contact support. |
Output Modes (EDI vs API)
Per trading partner, you choose how processed data is delivered:
| Mode | Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| EDI | Processed X12 EDI forwarded to SFTP/AS2 endpoint or available for download. | Partners that require raw EDI output, legacy system integration. |
| API / JSON | EDI converted to clean JSON and POSTed to your webhook URL or available via REST API. | Modern applications, ERP systems, QuickBooks integration. |
4. Trading Partners
Adding a Trading Partner
Go to Partners → Add Partner. You will need:
- Partner name and contact email.
- Their ISA Sender ID (ISA06) and your ISA Receiver ID (ISA08) for this partner.
- Connection type (SFTP, AS2, or API webhook).
- Transaction sets this partner sends/receives.
- Preferred output mode (EDI or API JSON).
ISA IDs (Interchange Sender/Receiver IDs)
ISA IDs are 15-character alphanumeric identifiers that tell the EDI network who sent a document and who should receive it. Each trading partner relationship uses a unique pair: your sender ID and the partner's receiver ID.
You can find your ISA IDs in Settings → EDI Configuration. If you don't have ISA IDs, SignalEDI will provision them for you during onboarding.
Connection Types
| Type | Description | Plan Required |
|---|---|---|
| SFTP | Secure FTP push/pull. SignalEDI polls your SFTP server or pushes to your partner's server. | Starter+ |
| AS2 | HTTP-based EDI transport with MDN receipts. Required by most major retailers (Walmart, Target, Amazon). | Professional+ |
| API Webhook | SignalEDI POSTs processed JSON to your endpoint on each transaction. The simplest modern option. | All plans |
| VAN (via AS2) | Connect to a Value-Added Network through our AS2 gateway. | Professional+ |
Onboarding Timeline
SignalEDI account setup and technical configuration is same-day. However, getting certified with a major trading partner takes longer because their internal processes control the timeline — not SignalEDI.
| Phase | Who controls it | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| SignalEDI account + ISA setup | You + SignalEDI | Same day |
| Partner contact & intake form | Trading partner | 1–2 weeks |
| Test transaction exchange | Both parties | 1–2 weeks |
| Partner certification | Trading partner | 2–4 weeks |
| Go live | Both parties | Day of approval |
5. Billing & Plans
Plan Comparison
| Feature | Starter ($199/mo) | Professional ($499/mo) | Enterprise ($999/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transactions/month | 1,000 | 10,000 | Unlimited |
| Trading partners | 5 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| File retention | 14 days | 90 days | 365 days |
| QuickBooks sync | Online only | Online + Desktop | Online + Desktop |
| Connection types | SFTP, API | SFTP, AS2, API | All + custom |
| Healthcare EDI | Core sets | All HIPAA sets | All + custom |
| Support | Priority chat + tickets | 24/7 + dedicated AM | |
| SLA | Best effort | 99.5% | 99.9% custom SLA |
Add-ons
| Add-on | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance & Audit Pack | $79/mo | Real-time compliance scanning, instant alerts, HIPAA and SOC 2 audit logs, and partner requirement validation. |
| Advanced Analytics & Reporting | $99/mo | Transaction trends, partner scorecards, error analysis, SLA tracking, and ROI reporting in one dashboard. |
| Document Archival Vault | $49–$149/mo | Extended retention (2yr, 5yr, 7yr) with IRS-compliant archival. Tier-based pricing. Never lose a transaction record. |
Upgrading Your Plan
Go to Dashboard → Billing → Change Plan. Upgrades take effect immediately and are prorated. Downgrades take effect at the end of the current billing cycle.
Billing Portal
Click Manage Billing in the dashboard to open the Stripe Customer Portal, where you can update your payment method, view invoices, and cancel your subscription.
6. API Reference
Authentication
All API requests require a Bearer token. Generate an API key from Settings → API Keys.
GET /api/transactions
Authorization: Bearer sk_live_YOUR_API_KEY
Content-Type: application/jsonREST Endpoints
| Method | Endpoint | Description |
|---|---|---|
| GET | /api/transactions | List all transactions (paginated). Filter by status, partner, direction, date. |
| GET | /api/transactions/:id | Get a single transaction with full EDI payload. |
| GET | /api/files | List uploaded EDI files. |
| POST | /api/files/upload | Upload an EDI file. Multipart/form-data with field 'file'. |
| GET | /api/partners | List all trading partners. |
| POST | /api/partners | Create a new trading partner. |
| PATCH | /api/partners/:id | Update partner configuration. |
| DELETE | /api/partners/:id | Remove a trading partner. |
| GET | /api/user/usage | Current billing period transaction usage. |
Example: list recent failed transactions:
curl -X GET "https://signaledi.com/api/transactions?status=FAILED&limit=50" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_YOUR_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json"Code Samples
Complete request examples in multiple languages. Click the tabs to switch between cURL, Node.js, Python, and PHP.
Rate Limits
| Endpoint Group | Limit | Window |
|---|---|---|
| /api/transactions | 120 req | per minute |
| /api/files/upload | 30 req | per minute |
| /api/chat (AI assistant) | 30 req | per minute |
| /api/auth (login) | 20 req | per minute per IP |
| All other /api/ routes | 60 req | per minute |
Rate limit headers are returned on all responses: X-RateLimit-Remaining and X-RateLimit-Reset (Unix timestamp).
Webhook Setup
Configure a webhook URL in Settings → Webhooks to receive real-time notifications when transactions complete or fail.
SignalEDI sends a POST request to your URL with the following JSON payload:
{
"event": "transaction.completed",
"timestamp": "2026-01-01T12:00:00Z",
"data": {
"id": "txn_abc123",
"transactionSet": "850",
"direction": "INBOUND",
"status": "COMPLETED",
"tradingPartner": "Walmart",
"outputMode": "API",
"payload": { ... }
}
}Webhook events: transaction.completed, transaction.failed, file.processed, partner.connected.
Verify webhook authenticity by checking the X-SignalEDI-Signature header (HMAC-SHA256 of the raw body using your webhook secret).
7. FAQ
What is EDI integration?
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the standard format used by businesses and healthcare organizations to exchange documents like purchase orders, invoices, and insurance claims. EDI integration connects your internal systems to trading partners that require EDI X12 format.
Do I need EDI expertise to use SignalEDI?
No. SignalEDI handles all the EDI complexity on your behalf. You send and receive data in standard formats like JSON or CSV, and SignalEDI translates everything to and from EDI X12 automatically.
How long does trading partner onboarding take?
SignalEDI setup is same-day. However, certifying with major trading partners (large retailers, healthcare payers) typically takes 6–8 weeks due to their internal intake, testing, and certification processes. This timeline is controlled by the trading partner, not SignalEDI.
Can SignalEDI sync EDI transactions to QuickBooks?
Yes. The ERP Marketplace add-on provides native connectors for QuickBooks Online, Sage, NetSuite, Xero, and more. 850 POs become bills, 810 invoices post to accounts receivable, and 835 remittance advices match to payments — no manual re-keying.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. SignalEDI offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. No setup fees, no long-term contracts, and you can cancel anytime.
What HIPAA transaction sets does SignalEDI support?
SignalEDI supports all major HIPAA-governed X12 transactions: 837P/I/D (medical claims), 835 (remittance), 270/271 (eligibility inquiry/response), 278 (prior authorization request/response), and 277 (claim status). The Professional plan includes all HIPAA transaction sets.
How is SignalEDI different from a traditional EDI clearinghouse?
Traditional clearinghouses require expensive setup fees ($500–1,500 per partner), long contracts, and EDI expertise. SignalEDI offers transparent all-inclusive pricing, a self-serve dashboard, and a modern API-first interface — so you can get connected in hours, not weeks.
Where is my data stored?
Files and transactions are stored in Neon PostgreSQL (US East) with encrypted storage. Uploaded files are stored in Vercel Blob with AES-256 encryption at rest. All data is encrypted in transit via TLS 1.3.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Go to Dashboard → Billing → Manage Billing. This opens the Stripe Customer Portal where you can cancel your subscription. Your account stays active until the end of the current billing period.
I uploaded an EDI file but it shows FAILED — what do I do?
Click the failed transaction to see the validation error details. Common issues: incorrect ISA/GS IDs (partner not found in your account), missing mandatory segments, or incorrect segment terminators. Fix the file and re-upload. If you need help, email support@signaledi.com with the transaction ID.
Still have questions?
Our support team typically responds within a few hours during business hours.
Contact Support